Self-opening umbrella.



No. 641,300. Patented Ian. l6, I900. H. n. KESSLER, In. SELF OPENING UMBRELLA.

(Application Med Oct 27, 1899.: (No Model.)

zu-zesses:

PATENT Fine.

HENRY H. KESSLER, JR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SELF-OPENING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,300, dated January 16, 1900.

Application filed October 27, 1899. Serial No. 784,947. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, HENRY I-I. KEssLER, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to umbrellas, and contemplates the provision of an umbrella which is constructed with a view of rendering it easy of operation in opening and closing, and is therefore especially adapted for use in conjunction with the bicycle attachment forming the subject-matter of my contemporary application, filed September 7, 1899, Serial No. 729,775. Its novelty and many advantages will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail elevation illustrating a portion of my improved umbrella in an open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken in the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation illustrating the manner in which the umbrella is secured in its closed position. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken in the plane inclicated by the broken line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In the said drawings similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the several views.

My improved umbrella comprises a top notch a, in which the inner ends of the ribs are secured in the usual manner, and a runner b, in which the inner ends of the stretchers or braces are pivoted, as usual. The top notch is arranged on a rod 0, which is preferably threaded at its upper end for connection to a suitable hanger, and has a tubular portion d below the top notch, in which is arranged a coiled spring e and on which the rumner is designed to slide, said tubular portion being provided adjacent to its lower end with a fixed collar f, having lateral arms g for a purpose presently described. The lower end of the spring 6 is connected by a hook 72. or other suitable means to a cap it on the lower end of the tubular portion d, and at its upper end said spring is connected to a hook ona cross-pin k, which passes through vertical parallel slots Z in the tube cl and takes into the runner, as best shown in Fig. 3. By virone of this construction it will be seen that the spring e tends to draw the runner 1) down upon the collar f, and thereby spreads the ribs and stretchers and opens the umbrella and holds it in its open position.

In order to render the operation of closing the umbrella convenient, I provide the run ner b with a handle m in the form of a bail, said handle being pivotally connected to the runner and having a knob 91. at its lower end.

WVhen it is desired to close the umbrella, it is simply necessary for a person to raise one hand and grasp the arms g of collar f with his fingers and press upwardly with his thumb on the knob n until the lower cross-bar p of the handle is adjacent to the cap 2' on the tube (Z. When the handle is in such position and it is desired to secure the umbrella in its closed position against the action of spring 6, the operator has but to swing the handle on its center and place its lower endp on hooks g at the lower end of the tube 01 after the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

To release the handle m and permit the spring e to open the umbrella, the operator has but to disengage the handle from the hooks q.

As shown in Fig. 1, one of the stretchers of the umbrella has a hook 0", upon which the handle an may be supported when the umbrella is open, so as to be out of the way.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an umbrella, the combination of a top notch having a depending, tubular portion provided with longitudinal slots and also pro= vided at its lower end with a hook disposed below said end, a runner movable on the tubular portion and having a cross-pin extending through the slots thereof, a coiled spring arranged in the tubular portion and connecting the cross-pin and the lower end of said tubular portion, and the bail-shaped handle pivotally connected to opposite sides of the runner and straddling and depending below the tubular portion of the top notch; the said handle being arranged, when the umbrella is closed, to rest on the hook of the tubular portion, and when the umbrella is open to depend below the said tubular portion, substau tially as specified.

2. In an umbrella, the combination of a top notch having a depending, tubular portion provided with longitudinal slots and also provided at its lower end with a hook, ribs connected to the top notch, a runner movable on the tubular portion and having a cross-pin extending through the slots thereof, stretchers connected to the runner, a hook on one of the stretchers, a coiled spring arranged in the tubular portion and connecting the crosspin and the lower end of said tubular portion, and a handle pivotally connected to the runner and adapted to be placed in engagement with the hook on the tubular portion and the hook on one of the stretchers, substantially I5 as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witmesses.

HENRY H. KESSLER, JR.

Witnesses:

JAc. H. ScHoEN, GEO. HEWITT. 

